What Not to Plant Near Citrus Trees: A Guide to Avoiding Pests and Diseases

What Not to Plant Near Citrus Trees?

Citrus trees are a popular addition to home gardens, but it’s important to know what not to plant near them. Some plants can compete with citrus trees for water and nutrients, while others can harbor pests or diseases. By avoiding these plants, you can help your citrus trees thrive.

In this article, we’ll discuss the best plants to pair with citrus trees, as well as some common plants that should be avoided. We’ll also provide tips on how to create a healthy and productive citrus garden.

So if you’re thinking about adding citrus trees to your landscape, be sure to read on!

Plant	Reason	Alternatives
Tomatoes	Can transmit a fungus that causes citrus greening disease	Peppers, eggplant, beans, peas
Nightshades	Can compete for nutrients and water	Herbs, flowers, strawberries
Grapes	Can attract pests that also feed on citrus trees	Stone fruits, apples, pears

Citrus trees are a popular addition to home gardens, but it is important to know what not to plant near them. Some plants can compete with citrus trees for nutrients and water, while others can attract pests or diseases. By avoiding these plants, you can help your citrus trees thrive.

Plants that compete for nutrients and water

Nitrogen-fixing plants, such as legumes, can compete with citrus trees for nitrogen. Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plant growth, and if there is not enough nitrogen available, citrus trees will not be able to thrive. Legumes are able to fix nitrogen from the air, so they do not need to rely on the soil for nitrogen. This means that they can compete with citrus trees for the available nitrogen in the soil.

Deep-rooted plants, such as tomatoes, can also compete with citrus trees for water. Tomatoes have a long taproot that allows them to reach deep into the soil for water. This can deprive citrus trees of the water they need, especially during dry periods.

Plants that attract pests

Some plants, such as mint and basil, attract pests that can also damage citrus trees. Mint is a popular herb that is often used in cooking, but it can also attract pests such as aphids, mites, and whiteflies. These pests can feed on citrus trees, causing damage to the leaves and fruit.

Basil is another herb that is often used in cooking, but it can also attract pests such as thrips. Thrips are small insects that can feed on the leaves of citrus trees, causing them to turn yellow and drop off.

Other plants to avoid

In addition to the plants listed above, there are a few other plants that you should avoid planting near citrus trees. These include:

• Citrus relatives, such as trifoliate orange and kumquat
• Plants that are susceptible to the same diseases as citrus trees, such as olive trees and fig trees
• Plants that have shallow roots, such as strawberries and raspberries

By avoiding these plants, you can help to protect your citrus trees from pests, diseases, and competition for nutrients and water.

By following these tips, you can help your citrus trees thrive. By avoiding plants that compete for nutrients and water, attract pests, or are susceptible to the same diseases as citrus trees, you can give your trees the best chance of success.

Here is a table summarizing the plants that you should avoid planting near citrus trees:

| Plant | Reason to avoid |
|—|—|
| Nitrogen-fixing plants | Compete for nitrogen |
| Deep-rooted plants | Compete for water |
| Mint and basil | Attract pests |
| Citrus relatives | Harbor pests |
| Plants susceptible to the same diseases as citrus trees | Can spread diseases |
| Plants with shallow roots | Compete for water |

Plants that compete for nutrients and water

Some plants are more aggressive than others when it comes to competing for nutrients and water. When these plants are planted near citrus trees, they can deprive the citrus trees of the resources they need to thrive.

Some of the most common plants that compete with citrus trees for nutrients and water include:

• Grass
• Weeds
• Vegetables
• Herbs
• Ornamental plants

If you want to plant these types of plants near your citrus trees, it is important to space them out so that they do not compete too much for resources. You should also make sure to water your citrus trees regularly, especially during dry periods.

Plants that have diseases that can spread to citrus trees

Some plants, such as peach trees, are susceptible to diseases that can also infect citrus trees. If these plants are planted near citrus trees, they can spread the diseases to the citrus trees, which can cause serious damage or even kill the trees.

Some of the most common diseases that can spread from one plant to another include:

• Citrus canker
• Citrus greening disease
• Citrus tristeza virus
• Citrus scab
• Citrus psorosis

If you are planning to plant a new plant near your citrus trees, it is important to do some research to make sure that the plant is not susceptible to diseases that can also infect citrus trees.

Plants that can shade citrus trees

Tall plants, such as trees and shrubs, can shade citrus trees, which can reduce their growth and fruit production. If you want to plant a tall plant near your citrus trees, it is important to make sure that the plant is not too close to the citrus trees. You should also make sure that the plant does not block the sunlight from reaching the citrus trees.

Some of the most common plants that can shade citrus trees include:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Vines
• Ornamental grasses

If you are planning to plant a tall plant near your citrus trees, it is important to consider the size of the plant and how it will affect the growth and fruit production of the citrus trees.

When choosing plants to plant near your citrus trees, it is important to consider the following factors:

• Competition for nutrients and water
• Diseases that can spread from one plant to another
• Shading

By considering these factors, you can help to ensure that your citrus trees are healthy and productive.

What Not To Plant Near Citrus Trees?

• Q: Should I plant tomatoes near citrus trees?

A: No, you should not plant tomatoes near citrus trees. Tomatoes are susceptible to a fungal disease called verticillium wilt, which can be spread by the citrus rust mite. Citrus rust mites are small, reddish-brown mites that feed on the leaves of citrus trees. They can also transmit the bacterium that causes citrus greening disease, a devastating disease that can kill citrus trees.

• Q: What other plants should I avoid planting near citrus trees?

A: You should also avoid planting eggplants, peppers, potatoes, and strawberries near citrus trees. These plants are all susceptible to verticillium wilt, which can be spread by the citrus rust mite.

• Q: What can I plant near citrus trees?

A: There are many plants that you can safely plant near citrus trees. Some good options include herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano; flowers such as petunias, marigolds, and geraniums; and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, and spinach.

• Q: How can I protect my citrus trees from pests?

There are a few things you can do to protect your citrus trees from pests. First, you can prune your trees regularly to remove any branches that are damaged or diseased. This will help to create a healthier tree that is less susceptible to pests. Second, you can spray your trees with a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. This will help to kill any pests that are already on the tree. Third, you can use a pest-resistant variety of citrus tree. These trees have been bred to be resistant to certain pests, such as the citrus rust mite.

• Q: What if I already have tomatoes or other plants that are susceptible to verticillium wilt planted near my citrus trees?

If you already have tomatoes or other plants that are susceptible to verticillium wilt planted near your citrus trees, you can take a few steps to protect your trees. First, you can try to keep the plants as far away from each other as possible. Second, you can water the plants in the morning so that the leaves have time to dry off before nightfall. This will help to prevent the spread of the fungus. Third, you can prune the trees regularly to remove any branches that are damaged or diseased. This will help to create a healthier tree that is less susceptible to pests.

there are a number of plants that should not be planted near citrus trees. These plants include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, beans, peas, and corn. The reason for this is that these plants all compete with citrus trees for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Additionally, they can harbor pests and diseases that can damage citrus trees. By avoiding planting these plants near citrus trees, you can help to ensure the health and productivity of your citrus trees.

Here are some key takeaways from this article:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, beans, peas, and corn should not be planted near citrus trees.
• These plants compete with citrus trees for nutrients, water, and sunlight.
• They can also harbor pests and diseases that can damage citrus trees.
• By avoiding planting these plants near citrus trees, you can help to ensure the health and productivity of your citrus trees.